North Carolina breaks record for turnout on first day of early voting

Voters line up during the first day of early voting for Buncombe County at the Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Community Center building in Asheville Thursday, October 17th. Photo by Julian Leshay Guadalupe-USA TODAY

By Sarah Gleason, Wilmington StarNews, October 18, 2024

North Carolinians came out in record numbers on the first day of early voting Thursday for the 2024 general election, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

A total of 353,166 ballots were accepted at sites statewide, according to data from the state board, which set a record for the first day of early voting. That is an increase of almost 5,000 from 2020 early voting figures.

In the Wilmington area, there were long lines at early voting sites and reports of up to two-hour wait times. Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the state board, said that was true for many spots around the state.

Meanwhile, at a Henderson County site, a Western North Carolina area affected by Hurricane Helene, voters steadily showed up to vote despite the devastating effects of the storm on voters and the community, according to the Hendersonville Times-News.

Popularity among early voting has increased in recent years, jumping from about 55% in the 2008 general election to 65% in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brinson Bell said the numbers show voters are eager to make their voice heard this election.

“Yesterday’s turnout is a clear sign that voters are energized about this election, that they trust the elections process, and that a hurricane will not stop North Carolinians from exercising their right to vote,” Brinson Bell said in a press release Friday.

You can see how many people voted in each county on the first day of early voting by visiting the Absentee and Provisional Data section at NCSBE.gov.

Early voting is open until Saturday, Nov. 2. Then, Election Day polling sites will open on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voters can also vote by mail. The last day to request an absentee mail-in ballot is on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and they must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

Read the complete Citizen-Times news story here.